Selwyn Kerry Burcher came from a long-established Auckland family. He attended Remuera Primary School and Auckland Grammar School where he was head boy and captain of the school's first fifteen in rugby football for three years. He graduated MB, ChB from Otago University in 1941, undertook his house

David James Waterston was born in St Andrews on 26 August 1910, the son of Professor David Waterston FRSE, FRCSE, Professor of Anatomy in the University of St Andrew's and younger brother of Brigadier Richard E Waterston FRCS (*Lives of the Fellows*, 1974-1982, p.406). He was educated privately at C